Means for attaching binding-posts to dry batteries.



W. A. SCOTT. MEANS FOR ATTAGHING BINDING POSTS T0 DRY BATTERIES.APPLICATION FILED NOV. 11, 1911.

1,035,247. Patented Aug. 13, 1912 WITNESSES JNVENTOR z 22MZZZ'QWZA.SC0ZZ Q g W 141107;

COLUMBIA PLANouRAPl-x CO., WASHINGTON, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

WILLIAM A. SCOTT, 0F TACOMA, WASHINGTON, ASS IGNOR TO NEW ERA MANUFAC-TUBING COMPANY, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, A CORPORATION OF VfASI-IINGTON.

MEANS FOR ATTACHING BINDING-POSTS T0 DRY BATTERIES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM A. Scorr, citizen of the United States,residing at Tacoma, in the county of Pierce and State of lVashington,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for AttachingBinding-Posts to Dry Batteries; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in meansfor attaching binding posts to dry batteries, and it has for its object,the provision of a simple, inexpensive and practical binding post ofthis character, which may be readily and securely attached to themetallic casing of a dry battery in such a way as to insure it againstaccidental displacement, and in which the terminal wire used inconnecting the battery, is always held in contact with the zinc shell ofthe battery itself.

To these ends, and to such others, as the invention may pertain, thesame consists in the novel construction, and peculiar arrangement,combination and adaptation of parts, all as will be very fullyhereinafter described, shown in the accompanying draw ings, and thenspecifically defined in the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whichwith the letters of reference marked thereon form a part of thisspecification, and in which drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a binding post and itsconnections, the same being shown as attached to the edge of a drybattery shell. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the post,detached, and Fig. 3 is a top plan view. Fig. 1 is an elevation of thedevice.

Reference being had to the details of the drawings by letter, Arepresents my improved form of post, the upper portion 2 of which iscylindrical in cross section, and externally screw threaded as shown at3 to engage the threads of the nut 4:. The lower portion 5 of the plugis provided with a central vertical slot 6, to receive the upperSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 11, 1911.

Patented Aug. 13,1912.

Serial No. 659,786.

edge of the Zinc shell of the battery to which the device is applied,and at a point intermediate the screw threaded upper portion 2, and theslotted lower portion 5 of the ,plug, a peripherally outwardly extendedflange 6, is provided, the said peripheral flange 6 being providedatpoints upon diametrically opposite sides, with slots 9.

It will be noted that the vertical slot 7 provided in the plug for thereception of the zinc shell of the battery extends from the extremelower end of the plug to a point considerably above the horizontallyextended flange 6. From the foregoing description, the construction ofthe posts, the means of attaching the same to the zinc shell of a drybattery, and the advantages derived therefrom, will be at once readilyunderstood.

In attaching the post, the slot 7 of the post is fitted over the edge ofthe zinc shell of the battery, and by one or two blows imparted to theupper end of the plug by a hammer, will serve to force the plug downwardover the zinc shell inclosed within the slot, and the extreme edge ofthe said shell will be deflected at points upon opposite sides of theplug, passing through the slots 9 9, the said portions thus deflectedbeing forced to occupy the space within the transverse slots 99,provided in the peripheral flange 6.

The screw threaded nut which is used to clamp the connecting wirebetween the zinc portions of the battery casing thus held within theslots 99, is screwed down firmly upon the upper end of the post, and theconnecting wire is thus held securely in contact with the zinc casing bythe nut.

A post constructed in accordance with my invention, will be found to beno more expensive than the soldered post, heretofore in common use. Itis found to afford better electrical contact than the soldered post, as,owing to the fact that the terminal wire used in connecting the batteryto whatever use it is desired to connect the battery with, is alwaysheld in contact with the Zinc shell of the battery itself. It has beenfound that in the use of the ordinary soldered post, that contact withthe zinc of the battery is only obtained through the metal of the post,and that the wire itself never comes in direct contact with the zinc, anobjectionable feature because of the fact that whenever the solder givesaway, as it frequently does, the electrical resistance thus set up willserve to quickly kill the cell. With a post constructed in accordancewith my invention, it will be seen that, should the post at any timebecome slightly loosened from the case to which it is attached, theextended overlapping lips of Zinc will serve to hold the collar, becausea slight tightening of the thumb nut at once serves to perfect theelectrical. contact between the wire and the Zinc shell of the battery,and a further effect of the tightening of the nut is that it serves torender the post itself more rigid.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The herein described device for securing binding posts to drybatteries, the same comprising a binding post provided with a verticallydisposed slot to engage the Zinc shell of a dry battery, the said slotextending to a point beyond the longitudinal center of the plug, and aperipheral laterally extended flange positioned at apoint below theupper end of the longitudinal slot, the

said flange being provided upon opposite sides, with grooves to receivedeflected portions of the zinc battery shell, substantially as shown anddescribed.

2. The combination with the shell of a dry battery, of a bifurcatedpost, the upper end of which is screw threaded, a peripherally extendedflange upon the post, disposed. at a point below the upper end of thebifurcation, the said flange being provided upon its opposite sides withslots as described to receive deflected portions of the edge of thebattery casing, and a nut adapted to engage the screw threaded upper endof the post, and to clamp the connecting wire to the deflected ends ofthe battery casing, within the slots in the flange, substantially asshown and described and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I hereunto atlix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

XVILLIAM A. SCOTT.

Witnesses MILDRED L. ArrLnoArn, F. S. DE Nnu'r.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

